DeWine unveils COVID-19 vaccination dates for Phase 1B

Those eligible in Phase 1B can start receiving vaccines on the following days:

  • Jan. 19: Ohioans 80 and older
  • Jan. 25: Ohioans 75 and older; people with severe medical conditions
  • Feb. 1: Ohioans 70 and older; K-12 staff and personnel
  • Feb. 8: Ohioans 65 and older

Ohioans ages 65 and older who are in long-term care facilities will continue to be vaccinated through those facilities.

Those living outside long-term care facilities will receive vaccines from physicians, local health departments, hospitals, federally-qualified health centers, in-home health service providers, as well as some retail pharmacies, DeWine said.

Approximately 1,700 providers have registered to distribute the vaccine, the governor said. On Monday, the state will host a webinar releasing outlines and expectations, as well as instructions for distribution.

Source: DeWine unveils COVID-19 vaccination dates for Phase 1B

Costa Rica receives third batch of 33,150 vaccines against covid-19 | Q COSTA RICA

Casa Presidencial indicated that these vaccines will be used to begin immunization in communities outside the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) next Monday, although it did not specify which ones.

The government reported on December 19 that, during January, 33,150 doses will be received per week, and that from February, the supply will grow even more.

This Tuesday’s vaccines are added to the first batch of 9,750 doses that arrived in the country on December 23 and the second shipment of 11,700 that landed on December 30.

In total, our country acquired three million Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for 1.5 million individuals, as part of a planned total purchase of six million doses designed for three million inhabitants who require them and whose inoculation will be progressive throughout 2021.

Source: Costa Rica receives third batch of 33,150 vaccines against covid-19 | Q COSTA RICA

Debates intensify over dosing plans for authorized COVID-19 vaccines | Science | AAAS

In the United States, FDA said delaying the second dose for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine would be “premature and not rooted solidly in the available evidence.” The European Medicines Agency, which has also authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the European Union, basically agreed, but mixed its message by adding the booster could be as late as 42 days after the first shot, noting this occurred with some people in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s efficacy study. And a vaccine advisory group to the World Health Organization, which yesterday recommended that WHO put the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on its “emergency use” list, echoed FDA’s position.

Pfizer and BioNTech released their own statement objecting to changing the intended dosing schedule, which says to give the booster shot 3 weeks after the priming injection. “The safety and efficacy of the vaccine has not been evaluated on different dosing schedules as the majority of trial participants received the second dose within the window specified in the study design,” the companies stated. “There is no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days.”

Source: Debates intensify over dosing plans for authorized COVID-19 vaccines | Science | AAAS

COVID-19 vaccine: 21 cases of severe allergic reaction, CDC says | abc10.com

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday announced that out of almost 2 million people who received a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, there were only 21 cases of anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.

The CDC said during a press conference that the occurrence of an allergic reaction to the vaccines that have rolled out across the country is rare. Seventeen of the 21 patients that had an allergic reaction to the vaccine had a documented history of allergies or allergic reactions, including to drugs or medical products, foods, and/or insect stings, according to the CDC.

Source: COVID-19 vaccine: 21 cases of severe allergic reaction, CDC says | abc10.com

Detroit to expand COVID-19 vaccine distribution, use TCF Center

On Wednesday, Whitmer announced the state is moving to the next phase of distribution of the vaccine.

On Jan. 11, Michigan residents age 65 and older, first responders, frontline state and federal workers, jail staff, and childcare providers will now be permitted to receive the vaccine, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on Wednesday.

“I urge all seniors to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and that all Michiganders to make a plan to get vaccinated when it becomes available to you,” she added in a press release. “And as always: mask up, practice safe social distancing, and avoid indoor gatherings where COVID-19 can easily spread from person to person. We will eliminate this virus together.”

The state health department began vaccinating residents in December after the Pfizer treatment was approved.

Since then, tens of thousands of residents have been given the first dose. However, Michigan has lagged behind most states in vaccine rates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. However, on Wednesday, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said Michigan had moved into the top 5.

Source: Detroit to expand COVID-19 vaccine distribution, use TCF Center

Not Chinese, prefer Indian vaccine first, Nepal to India ahead of minister’s visit – india news – Hindustan Times (vaccine dilomacy)

India is looking to revive the religious and cultural heritage of Nepal given the civilizational ties between the two countries. PM Modi had visited the Janaki Mandir in Janakpur, during his 2018 visit.

During his visit, Gyawali is expected to get a clear commitment from New Delhi for supply of over 12 million doses of the coronavirus vaccines produced in India. Nepal has offers from China to supply its version of the Sinovac vaccine. During discussions with Indian officials, Nepalese officials have, however, said that the Oli government preferred to get its vaccine supplies from New Delhi.

Nepal’s ambassador to India Nilamber Acharya has already held several rounds of meetings with Indian vaccine manufacturers and government officials. His last meeting was on Tuesday with Dr V Krishna Mohan, executive director of Bharat Biotech that is producing the indigenously-developed Covid 19 vaccine.

China, which has poured millions of dollars into Nepal in recent years in the form of aid and infrastructure investment, appears to have exhausted its influence with PM Oli in recent months after it tried to pressure him to avoid splitting the ruling communist party at all costs. Beijing is lately seen to be leaning in support of the rival communist party faction led by Prachanda and Madhav Nepal.

Source: Not Chinese, prefer Indian vaccine first, Nepal to India ahead of minister’s visit – india news – Hindustan Times

‘This is un-American’ – Diaspora leaders shocked at storming of Capitol building | Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner

New York State Senator Leroy Comie, a Jamaican, said what happened in Washington was the culmination of Trump’s efforts to create chaos as he still refuses to accept his loss to Biden in the November election last year.

“This is an unparalleled destruction of our country,” Comie said, calling for the immediate arrest of the instigators even as he wondered why the Capitol was not better able to handle the situation.

New York Police Inspector in charge of the NYPD Special Victims Crime Unit, Jamaican Michael King, described the situation as “terrible,”

“It is very discouraging to see this type of behaviour, especially in this country, to see what has descended on Capitol Hill,” he said.

He said that the elections were held, and there is a winner, and what played out in Washington should not have happened.

“We don’t need this. It is unnecessary and shameful,” said King. “This is un-American.”

Source: ‘This is un-American’ – Diaspora leaders shocked at storming of Capitol building | Lead Stories | Jamaica Gleaner